Wakame is a type of seaweed that is a popular in Japanese cuisine. The greenish seaweed boasts with a cooling nature and a sweet, slightly salty taste that makes it an important flavoring in miso soup. However, wakame is increasingly becoming popular as a superfood largely due to its many health benefits. According to WellnessToday.com, the seaweed is used in Eastern medicine to purify the blood and rid the body of certain illnesses. Wakame is widely cultivated throughout Japan, Korea, and China. The seaweed is closely related to kelp, sea palm, kombu and arame.

List of known nutrients

Wakame is a highly-nutritious food that contains essential vitamins and minerals that promote the body’s overall health. MindBodyGreen.com has saidwakame is an excellent source of the following nutrients:

Amino acids

Calcium

Folate

Iodine

Iron

Lignans

Magnesium

Niacin

Riboflavin

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

Vitamin D

Vitamin E

Vitamin K

Medicinal uses for wakame

As with other types of seaweed and seafood, wakame is rich in iodine. Iodine is an important mineral that promotes hormonal balance and regulates thyroid hormone production. Likewise, the high iodine, vitamin C, and lignan content in wakame are touted to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

Wakame is also significantly high in dietary fiber that eases digestive processes and alleviates certain digestive conditions such as constipation. The seaweed is known to induce weight loss too. Wakame is found to contain a compound called fucoxanthin, which prevents fat accumulation in the cells. The same compound is found to stimulate fat oxidation in the body.

Wakame’s ability to inhibit fat accumulation is especially beneficial to heart health. The fucoxanthin is found to prompt the liver to produce beneficial fatty acids that reduce the body’s bad cholesterol levels. Wakame is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that increases good cholesterol levels and reduces inflammation in the body. Additionally, the seaweed is notably effective in stabilizing the body’s blood pressure levels. Furthermore, the seaweed is notably high in essential amino acids — such as alanine, laminine and glycine — that protect the arteries from calcification. Thus, adding wakame to one’s diet plan may help stave off cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack, atherosclerosis and stroke.

In addition, wakame contains an abundant amount of iron that boosts blood circulation. This in turn bolsters energy and speeds up the body’s healing process. The seaweed is also high in calcium that increases bone growth and accelerates bone repair, therefore reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Moreover, the high iodine content in wakame is touted to boost brain health and memory.

Furthermore, wakame is an excellent source of folate that reduces the risk of neural tube defects in infants. Likewise, the seaweed is touted for its skin benefits. Wakame is known to relieve skin itch and reduce acne.

Body systems supported by wakame

Wakame is beneficial to the heart and the circulatory, digestive, and immune systems. The seaweed is also found to support the bones, skin, and brain. Likewise, wakame is essential in maintaining healthy thyroid glands.

Ways to use wakame

Wakame is commonly used in Japanese cuisine as a staple addition to soups and various dishes. Store-bought dried wakame can be rehydrated using lukewarm water. Online recipe generator AllRecipes.com has compiled a number of dishes that use wakame.